Kansas City Chiefs Defense Steps Up For Injured Patrick Mahomes

Before prevailing 22-17, the defending Super Bowl champs looked to be on the ropes.

Sure, the Kansas City Chiefs still had a lead, but their star quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, was out with a concussion, and the Cleveland Browns had all the momentum.

Backup Chiefs quarterback Chad Henne had just thrown an interception in the end zone, giving the Browns the ball back with eight minutes left in the game.

The Browns, who ranked third in NFL in rushing during the regular season with 148.4 yards per game, were wearing down the Chiefs. 

They had just completed an 18-play touchdown drive, the most plays the Chiefs allowed on a scoring drive all season, that took 8:17 off the clock to cut the Kansas City lead to five points.

And then the often-maligned Chiefs D stepped up.

“It’s all about making a stop,” defensive back Tyrann Mathieu said.

After running back Nick Chubb gained four yards, Anthony Hitchens stopped the back for no gain on second down. Quarterback Baker Mayfield would end up converting a first down, but on the very next play, Hitchens dropped Chubb for a one-yard loss. 

On 3rd and 11, the team’s best defensive player, Chris Jones, applied pressure, forcing Mayfield to have to settle for a short pass to Kareem Hunt. 

The Browns punted on 4th and 9 and never got the ball back.

That’s thanks in part to Andy Reid’s gutsy and fantastic play call to throw to Tyreek Hill on 4th and inches with 1:14 left in the game.

But it’s also a credit to the Chiefs defense.

“The defensive stand at the end was huge,” Reid said. “We had a couple big tackles.”

Hitchens, in particular, made key tackles. And it likely meant even more for the linebacker who hails from an Ohio town about 30 miles from Cleveland and rooted for the Browns as a youngster.

“Where I’m from in Lorain, you really have no choice,” Hitchens said. “Definitely, I was a Browns fan growing up.”

Earlier in the week, Hitchens, who is in the third year of a five-year, $45 million contract with the Chiefs, even joked that half his family was pulling for the Browns. 

Hitchens was not the only defender to step up. The defensive leader of the team — along with Hitchens — Tyrann Mathieu had an interception, in which he deftly read the route.

And fourth-round draft pick L’Jarius Sneed continued his tremendous rookie campaign. He had three interceptions in the regular season despite missing seven games with a broken collarbone.

He has been playing a lot of nickel cornerback of late, allowing Mathieu to be at his best and roam the field.

In addition to letting Mathieu freelance, Sneed had a tackle for loss of Jarvis Landry and a sack on back-to-back plays in the first quarter. He also helped stop Chubb for no gain with less than three minutes in the first half.

With performances from more unheralded players like Sneed and Hitchens in their divisional playoff victory, it shows just how hard the Chiefs are to beat. 

Even if you knock one of their best players like Mahomes, the resilient Chiefs always seem to find a way.

“The intestinal fortitude of the guys,” Reid said, “things didn’t always go the direction we wanted it to go, and the guys kept battling.”